Information about NEPEAN DAM


The Nepean Dam is located just south of Sydney on the Illawarra Plateau. Construction was commenced in 1925 but ceased for two years during the Great Depression with the dam finally completed in 1935. It took till 1938 before the dam was full.

The Nepean Dam spans the Nepean River with its main role today to supply water to the nearby towns of Bargo, Thirlmere, Picton and The Oaks, as well as the Macarthur and Prospect water filtration plants. Water transferred from the Shoalhaven River and Kangaroo River when the Shoalhaven Scheme is in operation tops up the dam.
The 4 dams, the Nepean, Avon, Cataract and Cordeaux also provide an additional supply of water for Sydney, via Pheasants Nest Weir, Broughtons Pass Weir and the Upper Canal.
The Nepean Dam is 82m high, the total operating capacity is 67,730 megalitres. The lake is 3.3 KM 2 with a Catchment: 320 square kilometres